Aaron Han
American Hospital and Mohammed Bin Rashid Medical University, UAE
Title: Insight into antibiotic resistance and patterns of carbapenam-resistant Enterobacteriacea in the United Arab Emirates
Biography
Biography: Aaron Han
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a major global healthcare issue. Specifically there is a growing problem with Enterobacteriacea resistant to Carbapenam (CRE). United States Centers of Disease Control has prioritized this as a significant threat to public health. CRE organisms are seen with increasing frequency and resistance to a broad spectrum of antibiotics. This study presents clinical challenges for patients as well as public health concern. A collaborative project to look at resistant strains and their molecular signature was undertaken in the UAE. Initial studies of more than 70 strains showed interesting resistance pattern. The clinical microbiologic phenotype was ascertained and the resistance pattern to panels of antibiotics reported. Resistance to standard beta-lactam regimens were virtually always present. Increasing frequency of resistance to penams and colistin was seen. Genetic patterns clustered the strains into different groups and various strain families could be discerned. This is the first study in the country of this important emerging microbiolic threat. There are clinical benefits as well as epidemiological implications of these studies.